Duke basketball’s Williams triumphs in memoir
By Anne Davey // Opinion Editor
Jay Williams was a Duke Basketball player that shattered records and awed fans across the country. Graduating in just three years, Williams was named ACC Rookie of the Year, National Freshman of the Year and a first team all Ameri-
can—he shone on the court and off of it.
Coming from a lower middle class neighborhood in New Jersey, Williams’ story was one of perseverance, beating the odds and pure skill. His story is also one of struggle, triumph and as the title of the book aptly dubs it, “reinvention.”
After completing his sophomore year at Duke when the team won the National Championship, Williams was ranked as the number one draft pick. Having made a promise to his family to get his degree and playing at a time when leaving college early for the draft wasn’t so common place, Williams decided to stay for one final year with the Blue Devils. In the 2002 Draft, Williams was selected as the second pick and headed to Chicago to play for the broken but dynastic Bull’s organization. After just one season in the NBA, Williams career was reaching new levels and he was destined for stardom. Then, one perfect sunny day in Chicago, he rode his motorcycle that he shouldn’t have, without a helmet or a license, to a meeting and nearly paid the ultimate price. The details surrounding the 2003 motorcycle crash that nearly ended his life are well known to the public, however, Williams’ private struggles following the accident are not. Hence the huge press that has surrounded his book since its release earlier this year. Williams is incredibly honest his role in the crash, his naivety and the grueling recovery process. Facing obstacles both internal and external, Williams not only walked again, but had potential offers to play in the NBA. Through resilience, hard work and a vast support system, Williams overcame unbelievable struggles, including an addiction to prescription painkillers and the many dark days that befell him following the accident.
Williams, now an ESPN college basketball analyst, worked on the project for three years before he felt it was ready for publication. Williams said Mike Krzyzewski, his coach at Duke when Williams earned three All-American honors before the Bulls selected him second overall in the NBA draft, flatly told him his first draft needed to be rewritten. Williams’ literary agent told him to be honest and real in his subsequent drafts.The resulting memoir is honest, engaging, candid and extremely well written. Whether you’ve heard of Jay Williams or not, this book is an outstanding read. Basketball fans will love it, but its deep meaning and candor will resonate with people of all ages and interests. The story is not just a sports memoir, but rather a real, honest, gripping tale of human struggle and redemption. The messages of not taking anything for granted, working hard, forgiving yourself and living with purpose transcend any sports reference or Duke hatred potential readers may be wary of.